Driven: 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line, addtional thoughts on a fuel economy challenger

September 4, 5:49 AMAuto Review ExaminerJohn Matras

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The current Saturn Vue Hybrid was introduced as a stopgap until “real” hybrids could be produced and brought to market, and a way of listing another model with a fuel economy number over thirty, all of which makes for good advertising copy.

That said, it has taken heaps of abuse from the automotive press for not being what it isn’t. But what it is, and if our disappointing mileage is our fault for driving the way we did or where we did, perhaps it would have been even worse otherwise.

We tested a Saturn XR AWD in December of 2007 and weren’t able to get our own real-world fuel mileage data, but the EPA estimate was 16/22 mpg city/highway, not terribly impressive. On the other hand, that was all-wheel drive and it was an SUV, with all the advantages and disadvantages that brings. And the horsepower rating of its 222-horse 3.5-liter V6.makes it better at keeping up with traffic, though in truth, the Saturn Vue Green Line was exceedingly adequate for most purposes…as long as those purposes aren’t high speed merges.

We’ll also mention General Motor’s five-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty along with the basic three-year/36,000 mile coverage, a not unimportant consideration, what with the extra engine bits of the Saturn hybrid system, no matter how mild.
So is the Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid a good deal? With the high price of gas as this is written, probably so. But the size and weight of an SUV, even with hybrid technology, suggest that unless the cargo carrying capabilities are necessary, a hybrid automobile would make more sense. On the other hand, for those who need the room and have to have that high driving position, the Saturn Vue Green Line Hybrid worth a look.

One might also consider the mode Saturn Vue dual-mode hybrid (as in the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid recently driven)debuting in the 2009 model year. More on that when we drive it.

Illustration: 2008 Saturn Vue Green Line, John Matras photo.